American – noun – “One who is a citizen of the United States of America”

That should set the stage for our interview with Chris “Angery American” today on his new book, “Going Home”. One reviewer described this book as addictive in fact what he said was,

“Imagine squatting behind a dumpster trying to melt a page of this book in a spoon so you can get your fix, yeah, it’s that addictive.”

Here is a description of the story.

Imagine you’re driving down the interstate, it’s Friday and all you can think about is getting your weekend started. Then to begin the ruination of your much anticipated weekend the grating tone of the Emergency Alert System flashes over the radio, then promptly dies.

This is the beginning of a 250 mile odyssey for Morgan Carter. Morgan works on the road and finds himself far from home when his car dies, as well as his Blackberry and every other piece of electronics he has. With no idea what has occurred he reluctantly finds himself on shanks’ mare carrying that ridiculous pack that everyone made fun of him for keeping in the car.

Morgan has to find his way across the state of Florida, from Tallahassee to the heart of the state in Lake County.Along his way he has to seek out food, water and shelter where he can, not to mention keeping himself from being killed by any number of now scared and desperate people. During his travels he will try and help where he can, but that can turn out to be a costly mistake.

We live in a wonderfully modern society where anything we want is a mouse click away. The lights come on with the flip of a switch and even a child can turn on the faucet at the sink and water always comes out. But what if it all went away?

Could you face what Morgan faces, could you make the decisions he has to make? Life and sometimes death in the blink of an eye, could you do it?

Special Update – Old Grouch Emailed me about 24 hours after I uploaded the video. You guys must really have liked the review because he just sold out of these bags. Make sure to join his facebook page and/or mailing list and he will be announcing when more come in.

I have been looking for a truly modular, high capacity, rugged, well planned, water resistant and above all comfortable to hump bag for a long time.

It turns out that the Italian military has been building the perfect bag for their troops for many years now and they are now available on the surplus market.

These are real Italian military issue packs, used but in great condition. The Italian military drew upon the countries long history of alpine exploration and excellent outdoor industry when they designed and made this pack.

Very light at just 4.5 pounds, the main compartment measures 14″x7″x28″, and the side compartments are 6.5″x4″x15″ each. These have lots of extra straps for lashing gear to the outside which is one of my favorite features, a bonus top compartment on the top flap, sturdy plastic frame, and great padded straps. The assault packs which can be broken off and run independently really increase the adaptabality of these packs both for trail use (think overnight gear and day pack) or as a BOB (think all your stuff and daily or often used gear).

Today on The Survival Podcast I have the privilege of interviewing John McCann, owner of Survival Resources and the author of, “Build the Perfect Survival Kit”. John has appeared on the Martha Stewart Show and been published in the New York Times.

John has a long history in the survival industry and you talk to him and read his work you quickly realize that he really loves what he does for a living. He has spent years in the bush out of a pure passion for the outdoors and over those years experimented with various components, configuration and construction techniques for making survival kits. He continues to this day to refine the process and personally train students.

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show.

You also now can call in questions or comments for the host at 866-65-THINK, (866-658-4465)please read the suggestions for calling in before you do for the best chance of getting your comments on the air.

In the event of a disaster should you bug in or bug out (shelter in place or evacuate) is a big topic in many forums, email lists and among modern survivalists in general. There are times when the question is easy to answer and times when it can be difficult. The key is your life and the lives of those you love can hang in the balance of this decision so today we discuss 12 question to ask before you have to make the decision.

Tune in today as we consider the following questions…

Which choice gives you the best chance of survival for the scenario at hand? (this is not always clear)

How well prepared are you to bug in?

What exactly are you prepared for? (a forest fire is far different from local rioting)

Have evacuation orders been given?

What is the nature and probable duration of the threat?

Well staying put change anything as far as “saving your home”?

Where will you go and how will you get there?

Do you own a bug out location or have double up plans or no place to go at all?

Will you be able to help your community if you stay?

What will the impact of staying or going be on your family, can they handle what you can?

What can you take with you and what must you leave behind?

If you leave what exactly is waiting for you at your destination?

The time to answer these questions is not in the middle of a disaster but right now. At this point you can plan, form contingencies and be prepared for a variety of outcomes. That way if the day comes your mind is ready to act and you can make the best use of the resources you have. As always how you act and how you think is more important then your resources.

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show.

You also now can call in questions or comments for the host at 866-65-THINK, (866-658-4465)please read the suggestions for calling in before you do for the best chance of getting your comments on the air.

We are continuing a series of listener questions today. Since it was done from the “mobile studio” there are no call ins or anything. These are all questions sent in by email, asked in comments, asked on the survival forum, etc.

I would like to continue doing this type of show often so if you want to have a question answered send me an email to jack@thesurvivalpodcast.com with the subject line “question for Jack”

Tune in to hear me answer these questions today…

Are there advantages to bugging in for surburbanites?

What is a cheap way to get into a BOL?

Is there a real threat of global government with no foil hats required?

Would Texas leave the union if we signed up for a real global government?

What does the “carbon tax” have to do with global government?

What are some good options for “natural fencing” that produce food? (note – I forgot to mention clumping bamboo)

If you have made 50% gains on the market this year should you pull out now?

Are we looking at a “dead cat bounce” in the stock market?

Can you make a useful back up solar system for say 200 bucks?

If you miss your planting window is it still a good idea to build beds for next year, this year?

What are common mistakes first time buyers make with real estate -land-residential-BOL?

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show.

You also now can call in questions or comments for the host at 866-65-THINK, (866-658-4465)please read the suggestions for calling in before you do for the best chance of getting your comments on the air.

Obama blames saving money for making the recession worse. – He Say’s “If every family in America cuts back, then no one is spending any money, which means there are more layoffs, and the economy gets even worse. That’s why the government has to step in and temporarily boost spending”.

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show.

You also now can call in questions or comments for the host at 866-65-THINK, (866-658-4465) please read the suggestions for calling in before you do for the best chance of getting your comments on the air.

Today’s podcast covers putting together a bug out bag (BOB), also known as the 72 hour kit or three day survival bag. In today’s show we cover things like what goes in a BOB, what type of bag is best to use, the purpose of a bug out kit and more.

Today we discuss,

The purpose of a 72 Hour Kit – getting to safety not spending three days at home.

Ideas for food items that keep you nourished on the go and are easy to obtain

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show.

You also now can call in questions or comments for the host at 866-65-THINK, (866-658-4465) please read the suggestions for calling in before you do for the best chance of getting your comments on the air.

Honestly I get a question similar to this at least once a day, “Jack, how in the world do you find the time and resources to do all of these things?”. So today I decided to discuss that subject because indeed prepping can seem over whelming at times.

Tune in today to hear…

You always get the things done that you see as being the most important

The false sense of security from “perceived abundance”

Food stored is better then money in the bank

The incremental approach to food storage

1 meal a month from your preps will teach you where your holes are

The lesson of the ant, he didn’t store everything for winter in one day

Why your construction projects are important beyond their immediate results

Finding time to garden is easy if you just do a very little each day

Making time to exercise, just take a walk

Why preppers are building up their assets while most of America is building up debt

Finish one project before you start the next

Three items that should be in your car today, right now, get on it

Slowing building up your bug out bag and bug out vehicles

Understand how long you worked at being unprepared, you can’t correct it overnight

The importance of planning

A cool way to automate watering, very low tech but very effective

Including education and awareness in your prepping

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show.

You also now can call in questions or comments for the host at 866-65-THINK, please read the suggestions for calling in before you do for the best chance of getting your comments on the air.

Today’s show covers the formalized planning and documentation process I have personally developed to handle any situation where bugging out is required. This plan is designed to keep decision making logical and get family members in touch with each other and to rally points on the way to your Bug Out Location should the ability to rally at home firt be compromised.

Tune in today to hear…

Planning your initiaion sequence and requirements

Setting up and utilizing means of communicaiton during a bug out

Know where to go – 3 locations – 3 routes and for both long distance and short distance

Procedures for arrival and waiting and departing rally points

The need for full documentation including maps, plans and contact data

Why your data must be “uniform”

Basic op sec for your data, with out paranoia

Multiple routes for all BOLs and Rally Points

Grab and Get lists beyond your basic kit (short and long)

Chane of Command – Group Hierarchy for Civilians

Planning for Pet Evacuations and the Doggy Bug Out Bag

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show.

You also now can call in questions or comments for the host at 866-65-THINK, please read the suggestions for calling in before you do for the best chance of getting your comments on the air.

Today’s show will not be an exhuasting inventory of what I keep in my bug out bag or even what you should keep in yours. Instead we will cover a few often over looked and ignored items that you may want to consider adding to your 72 hour emergency kit.

Tune in today to hear…

The origin of the orginal concept of a bug out bag (at least according to online forums)

Understanding bug out vs. battle pack or even survival kit

The most over looked item in a bug out bag documentation, procedure and contact documentation

The GPS, why many choose not to include one, why that choice is a mistake

The good old fashioned compass, do you have one, if not why

Why a written plan is a good idea, the psychology of crisis and how it effects you

Both maintenance and OTC meds are a good idea, don’t leave them out

A trick with benadryl that can help with toothache or mouth injuries

A simple bug out bag drill to evaluate what you might be missing

Thoughts on what makes good bag for your bug out kit

Thoughts on back up solar charging and additional methods of communications